France has launched formal internal disciplinary proceedings against its sitting ambassador to the Central African Republic (CAR), Bruno Foucher, following widespread allegations of professional misconduct that have sparked national security concerns, multiple international outlets have confirmed.
The claims against the 65-year-old diplomat, who has held his post in Bangui since 2023, center on incidents alleged to have occurred between January 2024 and March 2025. According to French media reports, Foucher is accused of inviting approximately 30 women to his official diplomatic residence in the CAR capital, with several of the guests reportedly staying overnight. The unsanctioned access to a secure government facility prompted France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to launch an probe into potential security vulnerabilities linked to the alleged behavior.
A senior anonymous French diplomat confirmed to the BBC that administrative disciplinary procedures against Foucher are currently active and ongoing. Details remain undisclosed regarding the specific scope of the disciplinary process, potential penalties if the allegations are substantiated, or a clear timeline for when the investigation will conclude. The BBC has reached out to the French embassy in Bangui to request an official statement from Foucher or embassy representatives, but no comment has been released to date.
The controversy emerges at a diplomatic turning point for France and the CAR, whose bilateral relations were severely strained in previous years. Just months before the allegations surfaced, during an official visit to Bangui in March 2025, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot publicly celebrated what he called the “complete restoration of relations” between the two nations, marking a key milestone in efforts to rebuild diplomatic ties.